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Master's Programme in Urban Studies and Planning
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Curriculum 2026-2028
About the Programme
The degree requirements have been approved by Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on 26.11.2025 for Urban Studies and Planning in Architecture and will be approved in Spring 2026 by the School of Engineering for Urban Studies and Planning in Real Estate Economics.
Director of the Master's Programme: Heidi Falkenbach
The Master’s Programme in Urban Studies and Planning prepares students to excel as a professionals capable of understanding and addressing complex urban development challenges and opportunities. They will learn to address and question such challenges and opportunities through interdisciplinary breadth as well as depth in core areas of knowledge, skills and practice. The programme balances theoretical and conceptual knowledge with the acquisition of methods, skills and experience.
Taking full advantage of the joint university structure, the programme unites expertise from the University of Helsinki and Aalto University. The signature elements in the programme are interdisciplinary studies that address urban challenge and opportunity themes. These themes relate to urgent contemporary urban controversies as well as creative and visionary thinking not only in Finland but on the European and global scales. The urban challenge and opportunity themes may be attached to focus areas, research projects or collaborations within our universities, municipalities, and regions in order to provide a critical and constructive framework for study and practice. These themes cross the boundaries of disciplines and professions and are united in addressing a common challenge and affirmative opportunities and emphasizing creative and innovative approaches.
Aims of the Master of Science degree (Architecture) in Urban Studies and Planning
The architecture specialization equips students with the expertise to attain advanced knowledge and scientific methods relevant to urban studies, urban design, and planning. Students learn to analyse and address field specific challenges and opportunities from diverse perspectives: use, art, aesthetic, economic, ideological, philosophical, technical, social, and environmental. This specialization provides professional competencies crucial for roles in urban planning and urban design in both private and public sectors. The education shall be based on scientific research and the professional practices of fields requiring expertise in science and technology, and on artistic activity. In addition, the degree of Master of Science (Architecture) shall meet at least the requirements set forth in the Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (7 September 2005) (see Appendix 3)
Aims of the Master of Science degree (Technology) in Urban Studies and Planning in Real Estate Economics
In the real estate specialization, the program provides students with skills for analyzing the real estate markets and understanding the dynamic processes determining supply, demand and prices. Students learn the basic methods used in the valuation of real estate and gain understanding in the business logics of various actors. The specialization provides professional capabilities relevant in real estate related position in both private and public sector.
Key Learning outcomes of the Master’s Programme in Urban Studies and Planning
After completing a degree in the Master’s Programme in Urban Studies and Planning, the student can:
- Apply relevant conceptual and theoretical frameworks to analyze, and critically evaluate urban questions in their own professional fields.
- Recognize the multidisciplinary foundations of urban studies, urban planning and urban design.
- Apply diverse methods to address urban studies, design and planning research questions.
- Develop interdisciplinary knowledge.
- Participate in broader contemporary urban challenge discussions.
General Knowledge and Skills
After completing a degree in the Master’s Programme in Urban Studies and Planning, the student can:
- Apply and develop integrated approaches based on theories, research methods and skills for the coproduction of knowledge across urban studies, design and planning.
- Develop responses to urban challenges using theories, tools, and techniques across multiple fields/ disciplines.
- Communicate understanding of and responses to urban phenomena visually, graphically, verbally and in writing.
- Write academic, and professional texts on urban themes based on relevant literature.
Knowledge and Skills Related to Specializations and Professions
After completing a degree in the Master’s Programme in Urban Studies and Planning, the student can:
- Situate urban analyses and proposals in relation to their specialization contextually.
- Identify, differentiate, and articulate relations among various theories and methods relevant to their specialization.
- Conduct independent research on urban issues in their field using adequate research methods, tools and techniques.
- Communicate professionally and constructively with different experts, practitioners, and stakeholders in the field of urban studies, design and planning.
Degree structures
Total
120
ECTS
Programme studies
90*
ECTS
Elective Studies
30
ECTS
Urban Studies and Planning in Architecture - M.Sc DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE
Total
120
ECTS
Programme studies
94*
ECTS
Elective Studies
26
ECTS
Urban Studies and Planning in Real Estate Economics - M.Sc DEGREE IN TECHNOLOGY
Urban Studies and Planning in Architecture
Code: ARTS3092
Credits: 90 ECTS credits
Head of the Programme: professor Pia Fricker
Pääaine suomeksi: Kaupunkitutkimus ja suunnittelu, arkkitehtuuri
Huvudämne på svenska: Urbana studier och planering, arkitektur
The architecture specialization equips students with the expertise to attain advanced knowledge and scientific methods relevant to urban studies, urban design and planning. Students learn to analyse and address field specific challenges and opportunities from diverse perspectives: use, art, aesthetic, economic, ideological, philosophical, technical, social, and environmental. This specialization provides professional competencies crucial for roles in urban planning and urban design in both private and public sectors. For architecture specialization, the degree given is Master of Science (Architecture). The learning outcomes are based on the regulations of the EU directive that applies to pursuing the professional activities of an architect (Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications). According to the directive, an architectural degree meets the expectations of the construction industry and also enables a career outside Finland. In order to meet the requirements of the EU directive, the applicant ought to have a bachelor's degree with orientation to architectural design. The assessment of full five year curriculum is done individually in the admission process.
Advanced studies 60 ECTS
| Code | Course name | ECTS | Teaching |
|---|---|---|---|
| USP-301-1 | Introduction to Urban Studies and Planning, key approaches | 5 | |
| USP-301-2 | Introduction to Urban Studies and Planning, field course | 5 | |
| USP-302 | Urban GIS and Visual Tools | 5 | |
| USP-E0500 | Adaptive Urban Transitions | 5 | |
| REC-E3500 | Urban Economics | 6 | |
| UPS-E0501 | Urban Challenge Studio | 12 | |
Choose 22 ECTS credits |
|||
| Organized by the University of Helsinki | |||
| ALKU-341 | Urban Transformations in the Global East and South: Power, Culture, and Identity | 5 | |
| USP-321 | Urban Social Studies | 5 | |
| ECGS-909 | Global topical issues in urban studies | 5 | |
| GEOG-364 | Geographies of Sustainability Policies | 5 | |
| Organized by Aalto University | |||
| ARK-L5003 | Planning Theory | 6 | |
| ARK-L5004 | Urban Studies | 6 | |
| ARK-E1020 | Studio Autumn: Capstone | 12 | |
| MUO-E8043 | Design for Government | 12 | |
| REC-E3200 | Institutions in Real Estate Economics | 6 | |
| REC-E4700 | Ympäristöoikeus | 6 | |
Master's Thesis 30 ECTS
To graduate, students must meet the aims set for the thesis. The aim of the master's thesis is that:
- Students demonstrate command of the field of the master's programme and ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the programme independently;
- Students demonstrate ability for research-oriented work on an artistic, theoretical or applied research topic and demonstrate ability to use data and source material for research purposes;
- Students demonstrate good communication skills for work in the field of study.
The thesis may be a piece of theoretical, artistic or applied research, a work of art or a combination of these; it may also include a production component. The production component may be, depending on the field, for instance, a design, a work of art, an exhibition, or project. Theses always include a written component. If the thesis consists of a design or other production component and a written component, the student must specify the emphasis to be given to the different components in the evaluation. However, the thesis is always evaluated as a whole, with all the components of the thesis included in the evaluation.
The recommended extent of the written component of the thesis is 25–70 pages (approx. 50 000–140 000 characters) depending on the extent of the possible production component.
| Code | Course name | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| ARK.thes | Master's Thesis | 30 |
| ARTSt.matr | Maturity Test | 0 |
In addition, students choose 30 ECTS of elective studies. For your elective studies you can study courses offered by Aalto University or by other universities as it is possible by Aalto internal and inter institutional agreements and procedures and course specific prerequisites. Students in the USP-programme can take advantage of the specific USP-electives palette that include courses offered by Aalto University and University of Helsinki. You can also include a minor in your elective studies, participate in an international student exchange programme or do an internship in Finland or abroad (USP-E0440 Practical Training 5-10 ECTS credits).
The programme’s elective course offering is presented in the following table.
| Code | Course name | ECTS credits | Teaching |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective studies organized by the University of Helsinki: | |||
| AGRI-296 | Kaupunkiviljely | 5 | |
| ALKU-303 | Monuments, Colonialism and Contested Public Spaces | 5 | |
| ECGS-049 | Nature-based Solutions | 5 | |
| ECGS-089 | Just Sustainability Transformations | 5 | |
| ECGS-203 | Sustainable consumption governance | 5 | |
| ECGS-904 | Urban Environmental Policy | 5 | |
| ECGS-906 | Urban Climate | 5 | |
| ECGS-907 | Urban Biodiversity | 5 | |
| GEOG-316 | Political Geographies of Urbanization and Planning | 5 | |
| GEOG-326 | Quantitative research of accessibility and mobility of people | 5 | |
| GEOG-354 | Urban Geography: Growth, Housing and Planning | 5 | |
| GEOG-359 | Digital geographies and big data for society | 5 | |
| GEOG-H301 | Qualitative research techniques and analysis in human geography | 5 | |
| GEOG-H302 | Quantitative research techniques and analysis in human geography | 5 | |
| SOSK-YP337 | No place like home: The housing question in social and public policy | 5 | |
| SOSM-SL332 | Making of a city: Urban politics | 5 | |
| SOSM-YP325 | The land question and sustainable urban development | 5 | |
| USP-302 | Research Methods | 5 | |
| USP-322 | Urban and Planning History | 5 | |
| USP-401 | Urban heritages | 5 | |
| USP-407 | Urban reading club | 5 | |
| USP-411 | Topical issues in urban studies | 5 | |
| YMK-3304 | Cities in the Global South | 5 | |
| Elective studies organized by Aalto University: | |||
| ARTS-A0622 | Environmental Thinking | 6 | |
| ARK-E0013 | Course with varying contents in Architecture, Landscape Architecture or Interior Architecture | 1-12 | |
| ARK-E1020 | Studio Autumn: Capstone Project | 12 | |
| ARK-L5003 | Planning Theory | 6 | |
| REC-E3800 | Future Studies in Real Estate Economics | 6 | |
| REC-E4500 | Land Management | 6 | |
| REC-E4700 | Ympäristöoikeus | 6 | |
| REC-E4900 | Applied Econometrics for Real Estate Economics | 6 | |
| SPT-E3010 | Participatory Planning | 5 | |
| SPT-E5020 | Urban Experience | 5 | |
| SPT-E5010 | Urban and Regional Development | 5 | |
| USP-E0406 | USP Optional Course | 5-10 | |
| USP-E0420 | USP Field Course | 5 | |
| USP-E0440 | Practical Training (only for students in ARTS) | 5-10 | |
| ENG-E1010 | Practical Training (only for students in ENG) | 1-5 | |
| *The list includes all the elective courses open to USP students. Note prerequisites, and compulsory studies in your own programme cannot be used as electives. | |||
Students educated in Finnish or Swedish
For students educated in Finnish or Swedish language studies are designed to be completed as part of the Bachelor of Arts (Art and Design) or another Bachelor’s degree. Students who have not completed the required language studies before starting to pursue the master’s degrees specified above must complete them either as elective studies or in addition to the studies required for the degree. In such cases, the language requirements are as follows:
Master of Arts (Art and Design):
-
9 credits: 3 cr in written and oral communication, 3 cr in the second national language of Finland, and 3 cr in one foreign language.
Students whose language of primary and secondary education is other than Finnish or Swedish
Students who have received their primary and secondary education abroad or whose language of primary and secondary education is other than Finnish or Swedish must demonstrate their foreign language proficiency either by completing three (3) credits of language and communication studies corresponding to the degree requirements in one foreign language, or by completing three (3) credits of language and communication studies in Finnish or Swedish.
Note: The language studies accepted for the degree vary based on the year the studies have started. See below the detailed language study requirements for your own degree.
Students who have a language of primary and secondary education other than Finnish or Swedish and who have begun their master’s degree studies before 1 August 2022 may complete the required 3-credit language studies in accordance with the previous degree regulations of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture until 31 July 2026.
- students pursuing a Master of Arts (Art and Design) and educated in a language other than Finnish or Swedish or educated abroad shall earn 3 credits in one language;
- students pursuing a Master of Science (Architecture)/(Landscape Architecture) and educated in a language other than Finnish or Swedish or educated abroad shall earn 3 credits in one language.
The language studies can be completed in any language of the student's choice and there is no CEFR level requirement for course completion (elementary courses and basic courses are also accepted).
After the transitional period (31 July 2026), the language studies earned for the degree must comply with the requirements set for those who have started their studies on or after 1 August 2022.
Students with a language of primary and secondary education other than Finnish or Swedish who started their studies on or after 1 August 2022 shall complete their required language studies in compliance with the provisions of the Aalto University Degree Regulations for Bachelor’s and Master's Degrees.
The 3-credit foreign language requirement of the degree may be fulfilled by taking a course in one of the following languages: English (CEFR B2-CEFR C1), Spanish, Chinese, French, German and Russian (CEFR B1). From the course offerings of Aalto University's Language Center, you can recognize the courses accepted for the degree by (w, o), (w) or (o).
The study attainment may consist of oral or written communication studies or both. In addition, the foreign language requirement may be fulfilled by earning 3 credits in Finnish or Swedish at the proficiency level appropriate for the student’s skills.
In the case of language studies completed between 1 August 2022 and 31 July 2024, the proficiency level requirement may, however, be disregarded in the case of students who completed a language course at a CEFR level lower than the required level due to insufficient communication about the changed degree requirements.
The language studies for master’s degrees completed on or after 1 August 2026 must comply with the Aalto University Degree Regulations for Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees (CEFR-level) and the specifications set forth in this decision.